cannella



Sept. 17 1929. Y CANNELLA 1,728,746

DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l avwentoz Jam bald p 17, 1929. J. CANNELLA 1,728,746

DI SPLAY APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 anvemtoz 3& Ma Gum/140% am W Patented Sept. 17, 1929 QFFECE PAT JOHN CANNELLA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DISPLAY APPARATUS Application filed May 12.

This invention relates to display apparatus, the principal object of the invention being to provide an automatically operated apparatus of this character by means of which a normally concealed object may be readily exposed to view.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a device of this character, means for effectively attracting attention to the exposed object.

With the foregoing, and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of apparatus embodying the present invention,

the apparatus being shown completely assembled in its housing;

Fig. 2 is a front view with the wall of the casing removed to show the interior arrangement of the parts;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. taken approximately on line III-J11 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

F i gs. 4: and 5 are fragmentary views, on a somewhat larger scale, showing respectively the flasher apparatus and the sign shielding apparatus; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring.

The same characters of reference designate the same parts in the diiferent figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a housing which may be made of any suitable material but is preferably of sheet metal. Rigidly secured within the housing is a frame 2, and secured to brackets 3 carried by said frame is a centrally disposed partition or screen 4 bearing in the present instance the word Taxi on both sides thereof, the front and rear walls of the housing being open so as to expose the screen and its legend. Pivoted at the points 5 to the frame 2, is :1 rectangular frame 6, two opposite sides of which are closed 'by solid walls or shields 7 adapted,

1928. Serial No. 277,340.

when the frame 6 is swung into proper position, to close the openings in the front and rear walls of the housing and conceal the sign-carrying screen 4. V

For swinging the frame 6 into and out of closing position, I have provided means operated by a solenoid 8, the armature 9 of which carries a depending rod 10 which is pivotally connected to a short arm 11 secured to the frame 6, the pivotal connection being shown herein as formed by means of a short shaft 12 secured at one end in the arm 11 and having its opposite end passing through a slot in the rod 10. The length of the rod 10 is such that when no current is passing through the solenoid the weight of the armature 9 and rod 10 will cause the frame 6 to swing down on its pivots into closing position. lVhen the solenoid is energized, however. the arma ture 9 is caused to 'move upward, carrying with it the rod 10, which in turn exerts a pull on the arm 11 and swinging the frame 6 on its pivots until the solid portions 7 thereof are in horizontal position above and below the screen 4, thus exposing said screen to view from the rear as well as the front of the housing. as will be readily understood. In Fig. 3. the frame 6 is shown in a position intermediate its closing and opening positions.

llleans is ')rovided for positively holding the frame (3 in its closed position. In the present instance this means comprises a lever 13 pivoted intermediate its length to the fixed frame 2, said lever being engaged at one side of its pivot by one end of a coil spring 14, the opposite end of which is secured to a fixed part of the housing, whereby when the frame 6 is in its closing position the lower end of the lever 13 will engage the upper edge of the horizontal bar 6 of said frame, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, thus positively retaining the frame against swinging movement In order to limit the swinging movement of the lever 13 under the tension of the spring 14 and also to swing the lever against said tension thereby to release the frame 6 when the solenoid is energized, I have provided a pivoted member 15 having a curved cam head 15 on the outer surface of which the upper end of the lever 13 rests. Secured to the elongated pivot 16 of the member 15, and extending from said pivot at right angles to said member 15, is an L-shapcd trip mem ber 17 having a horizontally disposed portion lying in the path of the armature 9 whereby, when the device is not in operation the weight of the armature will act on said member 17 and move it to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, thus swinging the pivot 16 and with it the am head 15, the latter being of such form as to permit the lever 13 to swing under the tension of its spring into full frame-engaging porition when the armature 9 is at the limit 01 its descending movement. At this time the pivot rod 12 is at the upper end of the slot in rod it). \(hen the solenoid is energized, however, the armature 9 begins to move upward, and attracts with it the member 17, thus causing the cam member 15 to swing upward thereby exerting pressure on the lever 12 forcing its upper end toward the left of Fig. 5 and swinging its lower end out o l engagement with the crossbar 6 of the frame 6. 111 the meantime, the rod 10 has moved up ward sutliciently to cause the lower endwall of its slot to engage the pivot shaft 12, so that during the remainder of the upward movement. of the armature the frame (3 is swung on its pivot into position to expose the screen l in the manner heretobefore described, in which position it remains as long as the solenoid is energized. When the passage of current through the solenoid is discontinued the frame (3 ill, under the weight of arn'lature 9 and rod 10 swing back into closing position. In order to limit the swinging of the frame (3 and at the same time to absorb any shock caused by the sudden stopping thereof a bumper 18 of flat spring metal is secured to one of the uprights of frame 2 and a roller 19 carried by the crossbar 6 in position to con tact with said spring bumper when the frame (3 has been moved into its fully open position.

in order to attract attention to the sign displayed on the scr ('11, I have provided in combination with the apparatus above described. a pair of reflectors 2t) each having a socket for receiving a light bulb, one of said reflectors being disposed so as to throw the li ht toward the front and the othe toward the rear of the tll plltll'lm. said lights being in circuit u ith a flasher device licrt nafter described.

Mounted for rotation in a frame 21 is a disk 22 which as shown herein is of eccentric formation in order to provide additional weight at the required point. Disposed above said disk is a solenoid 23, having an armature 24 provided with a depending rod which is pivotally connected to the disk, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Disposed on a base 26 of insulating material adjacent to the disk 22 are a pair of terminals 27 and 28 connected respectively with conductors 29 and 30. The terminal 27 forms the pivot of a cross-shaped of said lever being norn'ially maintained in contact with the terminal 28 by means of a spring connected at one end to the lever and at its opposite end to a pin 48 secured in the base 26. The long arm of the lever extends between a pair of pins and 33 projectii'ig laterally from the disk 22. The terminals 27 and 28 are in the circuit of the solenoid 23, so that when the cross arm of the lever 31 is in contact with terminal 28 the solenoid is energized whereupon its armature 24 is attracted upward. carrying with it the rod 25, whereby the disk is partially rotated. liefore the armature reaches the limit of its upward movement, however. the pin of the disk 22 engages the lever 31 and swings it on its pivot against the tension of its spring thus separating the cross arm of the lever from the terminal 28 and breaking the circuit. As soon the armature loses its upward momentum it begins to descend thus rotating the disk in the opposite direction, and permitting the cross arm of the lever to return under tension of its spring into contact with terminal 28, this return being insured by the engagement of the pin 33 with the lever 31. so that the solenoid is again energized and the operation repeated. In order to absorb the arcs which might be caused by the make-and-break device described, I have placed a condenser 34 in the circuit.

have also provided a rheostat 35 for regulating the current passing through the solenoid 23. Finally, in order to iiroperly illuminate the screen on both sides thereof a plurality of lamps 36, 37, 38 and 39 may be disposed in the lower part of the housing and equally distributed at opposite sides ofthe screen.

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically the wiring of the apparatus. The conductor 40 coming from the positive pole of a source of electric energy is connected with the lamps 3t; and 37 by a wire 41, to which in turn is connected a wire 42 which conveys the current to one terminal of each of the lights in the reflectors 20 and thence to a wire 43 connected with one terminal of each of the lamps 38 and 39. Conductor 44 coming from the negative pole of the generator is connected to lamps 36 and 37 by a wire 45, and with the lamps 38 and 39 by a wire 46, the said conductor at being then connected to one terminal of the rheo stat The circuit is continued from the other terminal of the rheostat by a wire 47 to the solenoid 23, which in turn is connected with the wire 29 leading to the terminal 27 of the circuit breaker. The wire 30 connects the terminal 28 of the circuit breaker with the remaining terminals of the reflector lamps 20, thus completing the circuit through the solenoid and the circuit breaker. The solenoid 8 is connected with the positive and negative conductors 42 and all respectively by tap wires 49 and 50, while the condenser lever 31 of conducting material, the cross arm is similarly connected to wires 42 and 30. It

inc oppositely dispos will thus be obvious that when the current is turned on, it Will flow Without any inter ruption through lamps 36, 37, 38 and 89, since said lamps are not in circuit with the circuit breaker, the course of the current being as follows: conductor 40, Wire 41, lamps 36 and 37, Wire 42, Wire 43, lamps 88 and 39, Wire 46, conductor 44, back to generator. The current Will also flow steadily through the solenoid 8, the course of said current being as follows: conductor 40, wire 41, Wire 42, across lamps 20, Wire 49, solenoid 8, Wire 50, conductor 44, back to the generator, so that during the passage of current through the solenoid 8 the frame 6 will be maintained steadily in position to expose the screen 4. The circuit through the lamps 20. however, is as follows: conductor 40, wires 41, 42, condenser 34, Wire 30, circuit breaker 31, wire 29 to solenoid 23, Wire 47, rheostat 35, conductor 44, back to the generator.

The embodiment of the aguvaratus illustratcd herein especially designed as a taxi outside and operated from a switch W thin the building, For this purpose the ()iMnlfiQ'S for the reflectors are provided with suitable protecting); hoods 5i, and the housing); is aiso provided with strong me al straps or cars 52 for the reception a bar 5 by which tie table apparatus may be suspended from a sin support. it will be observed that the Ft 4 is: so supported that there is plen space above and below as well as at t of said i-xcrecn, so that there will be h sistance to wind pressure ivl'icn the appara is hung out doors.

'hiic I ha vc dcscribi r ratus herein illustrated, it a that I do not thereby lini't the precise d tails of herein. as I am aware t changes and medifica therein Without depar in from the spirit and scope of the invent on set forth in the appended claims.

Having; thus descril'ed my invention, what I claim is:

1. An apparel us of the character described, comprising in combination, a housing having a. pair of opnodiely disposed open sides, a screen z'lisposcd in said housing intermediate said side a member mount d for rotation about said s reen and normally closing said and elec rical means operat to rotate f closingpost .on thereby to expose said screen.

2. An apparatus of th comprising: in ccui ina liS my invention to tion shown 1 1 i lilt'tlluilitd t l 3' be made i l w hi e charac er d cril ed, tion, a housing havopen sides, a screen y F. f 4- it disposed in said loosing, .IlllGlllll late .--.au sides, a frame mounted for rotaaon about said screen and having m ans normall closing said sides, an efemncallv movable memher, and connecting means between said member and frame for rotating the latter out of closing position thereby to expose said screen.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a housing having a pair of oppositely disposed open sides, a screen disposed in said housing lIItQX'IIlCClltItE: said sides, a frame mounted for rotation about said screen and having means normally cl ;--.in,o; said sides, a solenoid having an arma-- tui'e movable when the solenoid is energized, and connecting means between said armature and frame for impz-irting motion to the latter thereby to rotate it out of closing position.

4. An aymaratus of the character described, comprising in combination, a housing having a air of oppositely disposed open sides, a 'cen disposed in said housing intermediate said sides, movable means normally closing said sides, means for positively retaining said movable m ans in closing position, electrical moans operative to move said closing means out of closing position, and means effective on the initia ion of said electrical means to release said retaining means prior to the actuation of said movable means.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a housing having a pair of oppositely disposed open sides, means in said housing intermediate said sides for supporting an object to be displayed. a frame rotatable about said supporting means and having means normally closing said sides, a solenoid having an armature movable When the solenoid is energized, a. rod connecting said armature and frame for rotating the latter out of its closing position, a pivoted lever adapted automatically to engage said frame and retain it in its closing position, and means operative on the movement of the armature to shift said lever thereby to release the frame prior to the rotation thereof.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising' in combination, a housing hav ing an open side, means Within said housing for supporting an object to be displayed, movable means within the housing normally closing said side, electrical means operative to move said closing means out of its closing position, and intermittently acting means operative while the housing is open to attract attention thereto. 7

7. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, a housing: having an open side, means Within said housing for supporting an object to be displayed, movable means With n the housing normally closing; said side, electrical means operative to move said closing means from its closing position, a lamp disposed in said housing, and means operative When the housing is open for intermittently interrupting the flow of current through said lamp.

8. An a iiparatus of the character described,

comprising in combination, a housing having an open side, movable means Within the housing normally closing said side, electrical means operative to move said closing means out of its closing position, and intermittently acting means operative While the housing is open to attract attention thereto.

9. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a housing having a pair of oppositely disposed open sides, a frame mounted for rotation Within said housing and having means normally closing said sides, a solenoid having an armature movable when the solenoid is energized, and connecting means between said armature and frame for imparting motion to the latter thereby to rotate it out of closing position.

10. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a housing having a pair of oppositely disposed open sides, movable means normally closing said sides, means for positively retain ng said movable means in closing position, electrical means operative to move said closing means out of closing position, and means etiective on the initiation of said electrical means to release said retaining means prior to the actuation of said movable means.

11. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a housing having a pair of oppositely disposed open sides, a frame rotatable Within said housing and having means normally closing said sides, a solenoid having an armature movable When the solenoid is energized, a rod connecting said armature and frame for rotating the latter out of its closing position, a pivoted lever adapted automatically to ensaid frame and retain it in its closing position, and means operative on the movement of the armature to shift said lever thereby to release the frame prior to the rotation thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN CANNELLA. 

